A MEASLES alert has been issued for Cairns and Innisfail over the past week.
Measles is a highly infectious and serious viral infection. The symptoms usually start around 10 days after exposure to a case but can occur between 7 and 18 days after contact.
A measles alert has been issued for people who visited the following areas:
Friday 27th October
Pets Domain, Innisfail 1:20pm – 1:40pm
Woolworths Innisfail: 8:10pm – 8:20pm
Saturday 28th October
BWS Cairns, Lake St 3:10pm – 3:20pm
The Jack Hotel, Corner Sheridan and Spence streets, any time after 3:30pm
Gilligan’s Hotel and Resort, 57/89 Grafton St, Cairns, 10:30pm – 12:40am
Milky Lane, The Esplanade, Cairns, 5:20pm – 5:50pm
Woolworths, Cairns 5:50pm – 6pm
Sunday 29th October
The Jack Hotel any time before 11am
Cairns Central Shopping Centre food court area 11:20am – 12 Midday
Supercheap Auto Earlville 12:55pm – 1:05pm
Members of the public who were in these areas on these dates need to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles over the subsequent three weeks.
Measles usually starts as a flu-like illness lasting for between 2 and 4 days with symptoms that include:
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Severe cough
- Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
- Runny nose
- White spots in the mouth
Although the most well-known symptom of measles is a blotchy red rash, this is not usually the first symptom.
Please consider seeing a GP to be immunised if you are not already immune to measles. The vaccine is free for Australian residents.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Crash witnesses needed and Great Barrier Reef coral spawning begins.